Lepismatidae
| Lepismatidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Silverfish | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Subclass: | Apterygota |
| Order: | Thysanura |
| Family: | Lepismatidae |
| Genera include | |
|
Acrotelsa | |
Lepismatidae is a family of primitive wingless insects belonging to the order Thysanura with about 190 described species. This family contains the two most familiar apterygotes, the silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and the firebrat (Thermobia domestica).
Lepismatids are elongated, flattened insects, the majority of which are scavengers. The abdomen is usually clothed in tiny scales and terminates with 3 "tails" of roughly equal length. The compound eyes are small and well separated.
References
- McGavin, George C. Insects and Spiders 2004
- Fauna Europaea
- Nomina Insecta Nearctica
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